Project Strategist, Operations

Location: Greater Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania, USA

Manager: Chief Financial and Operating Officer

Department: Office of the CFOO

Full-time or Part-time: Full-time

Employee Type: Regular

Exemption Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Project Strategist, Operations plays a critical role in advancing strategic operations and organizational initiatives across the Foundation. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFOO), the Project Strategist provides high-level project management, financial analysis, scenario modeling, and consultative support. They will create project plans, analyze data to highlight key trends and future focus areas, assess project performance against expectations, and provide insights that improve processes and operational efficiency. The Project Strategist partners with colleagues across the Foundation but will maintain a specific focus on responsibilities and projects within Foundation’s operational areas including Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, Facilities, Program and Grant Operations, and Information Technology to design analytical approaches and translate results into actionable insights. The Project Strategist manages the end-to-end workflow for governance deliverables under the CFOO’s oversight. As a trusted advisor to the CFOO the Project Strategist enhances operational efficiency, advances the financial strategy, and ensures the CFOO’s office delivers on its organizational responsibilities,

Areas of Responsibility

Strategic Projects & Decision Support

Develop and implement strategies, practices, and tools that improve processes and enhance the operational efficiency of the Operations function.

Work with the CFOO and the Operations leadership team to frame critical strategic and operational questions and design the analytical approaches to address them, and translate complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations that support organizational initiatives, including the financial strategy. Deliver analysis in ways that enable leadership and governance stakeholders to make well-informed decisions.

Design and conduct advanced financial modeling and scenario analysis to inform decisions about programs, operations, and Foundation initiatives. Build multi-year forecasts, stress-test key assumptions, and evaluate alternative strategies under varied conditions.

Advance the strategic components of high-profile, complex organizational initiatives by ensuring alignment with Foundation strategy and decision-ready outputs, such as SWOT analyses, business cases, project frameworks, and executive summaries, that enable leadership to evaluate options. Support long-term value realization, while also serving as project manager for tactical elements to ensure milestones are met and cross-functional coordination is effective.

Governance

Serve as the primary administrative liaison for the JTF and TFI Audit and Finance committees. Manage logistical elements of governance, including scheduling meetings, facilitating communications with Committee members, and overseeing BoardEffect resources.

Steward the end-to-end workflow for governance deliverables under the CFOO’s oversight, including coordination with the Sr. Director of Finance and Director of HR, by developing timelines and ensuring materials are timely, accurate, and positioned to support governance decision-making and discussion.

Shape agendas in partnership with the CFOO, Sr. Director of Finance, and Committee Chairs identifying and elevating critical issues and initiatives for discussion.

Draft, refine, and coordinate governance materials, including memos, presentations, financial results, forecasts, and data visualizations, that distill complex information into clear discussion-ready formats for recurring and ad-hoc governance meetings.

Translate meeting outcomes into actionable follow-up, preparing Committee reports, initiating action items, and monitoring progress to ensure commitments are fulfilled.

Lead the annual self-assessment process for the JTF and TFI Audit and Finance Committees, including survey distribution, tracking responses, coordinating with leadership and committee chairs, and preparing reports, memos, and the presentation of results. Recommend changes to the survey content or structure as appropriate and identify areas of opportunity based on survey results.

Administer the annual disclosure process for staff members and Board, and Committee members of the John Templeton Foundation and Templeton Foundation Inc. by developing the timeline with key stakeholders, updating and testing forms, and tracking completed forms.

Other Operations Support and Development

Act as delegate for the CFOO in meetings, advancing projects, reinforcing priorities, and maintaining momentum when executive presence is not required.

Represent the JTF Operations function externally, attending pro fessional conferences, cultivating peer networks, and bringing back insights and practices that inform continuous improvement.

Foster team development and culture, helping to design and facilitate Operations team meetings and events that advance engagement, collaboration, and professional growth. Participate in the organization of Operations Team meetings and other Foundation events, as needed.

Strengthen operational effectiveness by contributing to the design, improvement, and maintenance of Operations platforms, processes and data systems

Support the day-to-day operations for the Office of the CFOO and Operations teams, as needed, by assisting with calendar management, scheduling travel, reviewing expenses, drafting or editing memos and presentations, or serving as a back-up for Operations functions to ensure the CFOO’s and Operations Leadership Team’s offices function smoothly and remain focused on high-impact priorities.

Attend relevant professional conferences and participate in other professional development opportunities.

The Foundation requires employees to be physically present in our offices for a minimum of three days per week. This in-office requirement is essential to our organization for a number of key reasons, including that it allows for spontaneous interactions and face-to-face communication, facilitates effective and efficient teamwork and collaboration, and ensures regular access to our office’s various resources. It also helps maintain and strengthen our organization’s culture by allowing employees to regularly engage in a more active way in meetings and interactions, and fosters a sense of belonging and community. In addition, regular in-office work is required for this position because of the high level of interaction and teamwork required to carry out many of the position’s responsibilities, including identifying operational needs and serving as liaison and project manager for cross-functional initiatives,

Criteria & Relevant Skills

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, or other related disciplines required; master’s degree preferred.

Minimum 7 years progressive experience in strategic operations, financial planning, or enterprise-level project management including demonstrated responsibility for board-level or executive-facing initiatives.

Ability to work autonomously on complex assignments while building strong, collaborative relationships across functions and levels of the organization

Strong organizational and project management skills including guiding cross-functional initiatives and managing both strategic and tactical elements including planning, communication, execution, and finalization of projects in accordance with established budgets and timelines.

Proven ability to design and deliver financial models, scenario analyses, and multi-year forecasts that inform organizational strategy and decision-making

Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to translate complex issues into clear insights for diverse audiences including senior leadership, external stakeholders, and board and committee members,

Experience handling sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

Strong orientation toward continuous improvement and problem-solving, with the ability to identify opportunities for efficiency, innovation and enhanced impact .

Ability to work in a highly collaborative environment with a small team from diverse professional backgrounds.

Strong personal interest in the Foundation’s mission.